Adventures in Pitfall Trapping

Today we were scheduled to check our pitfall traps. It was an adventurous team, comprised of Amelie (“Frenchie”), Fraser (a.k.a. “Cup of Joe”), Jim (“Colin”), Hannah (“the Vomitater”), Nicole (“Coleslaw”) and myself (“Jungle Beau”). However, we decided ‘let us not do pitfalls today. They are a silly survey’.

Instead, we went into the dreaded Fire Swamp, where we faced dangers such as giant rats, quicksand and the Bog of Eternal Stench. We snuck past the Knights who say “Ni” by imitating a flock of T-Rex (at which we are quite skilled). From there it was a dangerous walk up and down the Cascada Hills, known for their vicious pods of wasps and lubricant covered slopes. There was a close call involving a steep slope and my face; luckily, it was saved by our Guardian Angel: “Lack of Dignity”. We met multiple amphibians, which were conquered by our magical weapons “Frog Bags” and “ID plates”. Feeling our quest was successful, we returned along the deep torrent-like river known alternatively as “the River at World’s End” or “little creek at DD3” (personally, I feel the second name is snappier).

We passed back over the Cascada Hills and instead wandered to the wild west Frontier. Dodging Geronimo and his hostile war parties, we found our greatest challenge yet: A Fer-De-Lance. It was more than 20 feet long! The team has been searching for the elusive venomous snake since the beginning of expedition. The existence of this master of camouflage was being doubted until we barely escaped certain death by my nearly stepping on one. Luckily, Cup o’ Joe was on hand, and aided by the disorienting flash of camera lights, and a snake hook the giant serpent was moved and the day was saved.

The Ewoks threw us a party, and we celebrated on our way back to camp. It was even better on our return to find some handsome devils had done our pitfall surveys. Brilliant!

And then we had cake.

Beau Horton-Hunter, GVI Amazon Conservation Intern, July-Dec 2011

Adventures in Pitfall Trapping